Quick local hits: Gramsci Melodic, Ennui, Haiti benefits

Your CP music team wishes to send along a couple quick notes regarding local band scuttlebutt! Here it is! Exclamation point!

First, you might remember me writing up locals Gramsci Melodic last summer when that band's LP came out. Since then, they've been keeping up a regimen of local shows, and also released a video for what I thought was one of the record's best tracks, the synth-heavy "Wong;" check that out here. The haps with them this weekend is an appearance tomorrow evening at Club Cafe; it's the early show, and is all-ages, so it's a change for folks of all stripes to lend them an ear. Starts at 7 p.m., 56 S. 12th St., South Side.

Additionally, it was brought to my attention by a Twitter friend that local electronic outfit Ennui, who are pretty awesome, got a quick mention on Pitchfork yesterday. They're included on a new comp put out by a new label, Waaga, created by the folks also behind the Lefse imprint. Read all about that here.

And last but not least, I want to pass along some info on an upcoming benefit for Haiti earthquake relief: there are a few benefit concerts already in the works locally for the cause, and one at Shadow Lounge this coming Thursday will be featured in Short List next issue. Another show is being organized by Jay Donaldson, a mover and shaker in the local blues scene who's always interested in making things a little bit better. He's already got his own Muddy Kreek Blues Band, The Real Deal Band, and The Freedom Band on board and is building a roster for the show, which will take place Saturday, January 23 at the Carnegie Library of Homestead Music Hall. He's looking for additional acts, so if you're a local musician who fits the bill -- blues, funk, reggae -- and would like to play, give Jay a call at 412-258-0506. That show, by the by, will be $25, or $10 with a donation of two bags of non-perishable goods.